Debra Messing was ‘dismayed’ by Megyn Kelly asking a fan if Will & Grace turned him gay

(Instagram/Debra Messing)

Debra Messing has said she was “dismayed” by Megyn Kelly asking a fan if Will & Grace turned him gay.

Kelly, a former Fox News host, was interviewing the four main stars of the sitcom yesterday – including Messing, of course – ahead of its return to screens tomorrow.

In a surprise move, she asked for superfan Russell Turner to come up and join them on stage.

(Twitter/Jarett Wieselmanā€ & Megyn Kelly Today)

(Twitter/Jarett Wieselmanā€ & Megyn Kelly Today)

Turner a lawyer, was overjoyed to join the group, hugging each one with a huge grin on his face.

But Kelly’s first and only question for Turner was: ā€œIs it true that you became a lawyer, and became gay, because of Will?ā€

He handled the question well, saying rightly that Will “has it made – lawyer, best apartment in New York City, and being gay – the trifecta.”

Closing out the segment, Kelly said: ā€œI think the Will and Grace thing and the gay thing is gonna work out great.ā€

But the cringe factor was high, and following the incident, Messing said that she felt it too.

After posting a picture of food on Instagram, one of her fans responded: “why did you guys do the Megyn Kelly show? That’s a fail!!”

She hit back, revealing that she had no idea she was going to be on the first episode of Megyn Kelly Today.

Messing wrote: “honestly I didn’t know it was MK until that morning.


“The itinerary just said Today Show appearance.

“Regret going on. Dismayed by her comments,” she added.

Another fan asked: “What about offering to help her make some authentic connections to the LGBTQ community as opposed to being so dismissive?”

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 02:  Actress Debra Messing attends the "Will & Grace" ribbon cutting Ceremony on August 2, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.  (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)

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The film and TV star responded: “saying I was dismayed is not dismissive.”

The fan said they “truly appreciated” that Messing responded, adding: “I just thought your response felt like a missed opportunity to enlighten and enrich a colleague.”

The ninth season of Will & Grace will air in NBCā€™s primetime spot, and will contain 16 episodes.

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 23:  Debra Messing attends the Tribeca TV Festival exclusive celebration for Will & Grace at Cinepolis Chelsea on September 23, 2017 in New York City.  (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Tribeca TV Festival)

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All four original stars – Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally and Sean Hayes – are returning after a decade-long break, along with guests stars like Jane Lynch and Broadway’s Andrew Rannells.

On her Fox show, Kelly often made a comparison between LGBT rights and Christian rights.

At one point, she told her audience: “Gay rights are more and more protected and recognised in this country. Christian beliefs and Christian rights – not so much.”

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 15:  Debra Messing attends the 2017 Gersh Emmy Party presented by Tequila Don Julio 1942 on September 15, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.  (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Gersh)

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She also mocked the physical appearance of a transgender prisoner, repeatedly calling her ā€˜heā€™ and joked that she wasnā€™t attractive enough to be in danger of being physically assaulted in prison.

And in one memorable segment, she accidentally called anti-gay Republican Mike Huckabee “Fuckabee” to his face, on live TV.

Watch the full Megyn Kelly Today clip here: